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Isle of Lesbos : Poetry : Historical : Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge
1772-1834

Selected Work

Chrstabel and Geraldine

Lines 236-277, excerpted:

Her gentle limbs did she undress,
And lay down in her loveliness.

But through her brain of weal and woe
So many thoughts moved to and fro,
That vain it were her lids to close;
So half-way from the bed she rose,
And on her elbow did recline
To look at the lady Geraldine.

Beneath the lamp the lady bowed,
And slowly rolled her eyes around;
Then drawing in her breath aloud,
Like one that shuddered, she unbound
The cincture from beneath her breast:
Her silken robe, and inner vest,
Dropt to her feet, and full in view,
Behold! her bosom and half her side --
A sight to dream of, not to tell!
O shield her! shield sweet Christabel!

Yet Geraldine nor speaks nor stirs;
Ah! what a stricken look was hers!
Deep from within she seems half-way
To lift some weight with sick assay,
And eyes the maid and seeks delay;
Then suddenly, as one defied,
Collects herself in scorn and pride
And lay down by the Maiden's side! --
And in her arms the maid she took,
Ah wel-a-day!
And with low voice and doleful look
These words did say:
'In the touch of this bosom there worketh a spell,
Which is lord of thy utterance, Christabel!
Thou knowest tonight, and wilt know tomorrow,
This mark of my shame, this seal of my sorrow;
But vainly thou warrest,
For this is alone in
Thy power to declare,
That in the dim forest
Thou head'st a low moaning,
And found'st a bright lady, surpassingly fair;
And didst bring her home with thee in love and in charity,
To shield her and shelter her from the damp air.'

Where to Read More

• S. T. Coleridge Home Page
• S. T. Coleridge, "Christabel" (complete text)
• S. T. Coleridge and William Wordsworth, Lyrical Ballads (Bristol, 1798)
• S.T. Colridge, "Work Without Hope"
• S. T. Coleridge, Selected Poetry (From Representative Poetry)
• Biography of S.T. Coleridge